HEADLINES

Month: April 2025

Rams Announce 17 UDFA Signings

April 29th, 2025 at 10:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Los Angeles didn’t have many draft picks, checking in with only six drafted rookies after trading out of the first round, so they’ve added a large contingent of undrafted players to form a 23-man rookie class. Here are the 17 UDFA signings:

The biggest of these additions probably come on the offensive line with Lampkin and Wedig. After starting three seasons at Coastal Carolina (two at left guard and one at center), Lampkin transferred to Chapel Hill. In his first season with the Tar Heels, he started eight games at right guard, two at left guard, and one at center before starting 12 games at right guard in 2024 with first-team All-ACC honors. His versatility gives him value at multiple interior positions for the Rams, but their listing him at center likely means they see the most value for him there.

Wedig was another transfer, earning the starting right tackle job at Indiana after spending four years at Wisconsin. He found some starting time with the Badgers in his redshirt sophomore season, starting five games at right tackle, two at right guard, and one at left guard, but he lost first-team duties the following year. He didn’t earn any accolades as a Hoosier, but he attended the East-West Shrine Bowl where he stood out and likely earned himself this NFL opportunity.

On defense, Dolac continues to prove he belongs despite the value that is assigned to him. Dolac walked on as a freshman at Buffalo, playing minimal time. He earned a scholarship as a sophomore starting two games and notching 1.5 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss. He started all 13 games in 2022, totaling 147 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, before missing eight games with a shoulder injury the following year. He returned for a fifth season (granted due to COVID-19) and started all 13 games once again, showing up all over the field and stat sheet with 168 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, and five interceptions — all career highs. Once again, he’ll come into a new situation itching to prove he belongs in Los Angeles.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/29/25

April 29th, 2025 at 6:45pm CST by Ely Allen

Tuesday’s minor transactions from across the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Received roster exemption (international player): WR Louis Rees-Zammit

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

A fifth-round pick out of BYU, Hall was part of a three-quarterback solutions to a season-ending Kirk Cousins injury in 2023. Alongside Nick Mullens and Joshua Dobbs, Hall started two of three game appearances for Minnesota as a rookie, only attempting 20 passes in that time. After trading for Sam Howell to back up J.J. McCarthy, in addition to retaining Brett Rypien and signing undrafted Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer, Hall became the odd man out.

Broncos Eyed RB TreVeyon Henderson In Round 1

April 29th, 2025 at 5:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bolstering their secondary by choosing Jahdae Barron, the Broncos next turned to what many considered their top need. The team drafted Central Florida running back R.J. Harvey at No. 60 overall.

While Harvey is expected to quickly push to the head of a Denver backfield committee, the team was connected to first-round running backs in mock drafts for months. Sean Payton said the trade-up rumors surrounding his team were unfounded, but the Broncos did eye at least one RB via a trade-down maneuver during the first round.

It is believed Denver was interested in Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson in the event of a first-round trade-down move, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel notes. GM George Paton said after Round 1 one running back drew interest from the team, and it is interesting that it does not appear to have been Omarion Hampton — the North Carolina product many had going to Denver at No. 20.

Hampton went two spots later to the Chargers. Henderson was viewed as a threat to be the draft’s third RB off the board. That nearly came to fruition, but the Browns took fellow Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins first. Henderson went two picks later, at No. 38, to the Patriots. The Broncos met with Hampton, Judkins, Henderson and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson on “30” visits.

It will be Harvey set to team with Jaleel McLaughlin and 2024 fifth-round pick Audric Estime. Javonte Williams joined the Cowboys in free agency. The Broncos deemed a trade-down move (via the Panthers) to No. 57 a safe play due to not deeming the teams behind their No. 51 spot as a particularly RB-needy lot, Gabriel adds. The team then dropped three more spots in a trade with the Lions.

Receiving rave reviews for his pass-protection skills, Henderson also drew attention for his potential as a receiving option. Payton has generated considerable value from receiving backs throughout his career, as the likes of Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara became central pieces in his Saints offenses. Payton has yet to find that in Denver, continually expressing a desire to add a “joker” to his offense.

The Broncos now have Harvey and Evan Engram, the latter being added after the team’s post-Noah Fant offenses received little tight end contributions. But Henderson checked in with a higher profile compared to Harvey, who dazzled at the mid-major level before clocking a 4.40-second Combine 40-yard time. (Henderson ranked 32nd on Daniel Jeremiah’s final NFL.com big board this year, while Harvey was 99th.) Henderson battled injuries with the Buckeyes but was one of the nation’s top RBs when healthy. That included last season, when he and Judkins formed a 1,000-1,000 tandem to help the team to a national championship. Henderson paced the Big Ten with a 7.1-yard average per carry, totaling 1,300 scrimmage yards and 11 TDs.

Elsewhere on Denver’s roster, the team will use third-round pick Sai’vion Jones as a defensive end in their 3-4 scheme, 9News’ Mike Klis tweets. Although LSU had played Jones as an edge defender, his 283-pound frame aligns more closely with a five-technique player. The Broncos have both their starting D-ends — Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers — in contract years. While both appear extension candidates during Bo Nix‘s rookie contract, Jones adds a potential option in the event the team does not pay one of them.

Denver long snapper Mitchell Fraboni underwent back surgery recently, per Klis, who describes it as a cleanup. Fraboni, who has been with the Broncos since 2022, is expected to be ready for training camp. The team has him signed through the 2027 season. Recent addition Zach Triner will snap during the team’s offseason program, though it does not yet sound like this is a competition.

Seahawks To Re-Sign DT Johnathan Hankins

April 29th, 2025 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Entering the NFL shortly after his 21st birthday has helped Johnathan Hankins enjoy a long career. The Seahawks will give the veteran defensive tackle a chance at a 13th season.

The team is re-signing Hankins, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Hankins, now 33, played in all 17 Seattle games last season and worked as a part-time starter. The Seahawks are Hankins’ fifth team, but he has a connection stemming from stop No. 4.

Seattle hired Aden Durde as DC last year, and the team brought in one of his former charges from Dallas. Previously the Cowboys’ D-line coach, Durde mentored Hankins from 2022-23. That partnership continued in Seattle last year, as the Seahawks used the big-bodied defender as an eight-game starter. Hankins did not miss a game during his first Seahawks season.

This will reequip the Seahawks with a true nose tackle. The team has Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams up front, but Hankins will be back as a complementary piece who will help allow that pass-rushing trio better opportunities. Hankins played 35% of Seattle’s defensive snaps last season, logging 390.

Originally a Giants second-round pick in 2013, Hankins made his way into the team’s then-Tom Coughlin-led team’s starting lineup by Year 2. Helping the team to the playoffs in 2016, the 325-pound NT scored a three-year, $27MM commitment from the Colts. Indianapolis, however, cut bait on that deal after one season. The NFL then collectively viewed Hankins as a lower-value player, though he has continued to land gigs.

The Raiders gave Hankins four contracts during a partnership that lasted nearly five seasons; none of the deals topped $4.5MM per year. (Hankins played for $2.1MM on his first Seahawks contract.) The team traded Hankins to the Cowboys during the 2022 campaign, and he helped Dallas against the run during a 12-5 season. The Cowboys then used him as a 14-game starter in 2023. He registered three sacks that year, but as the Cowboys transitioned to Mike Zimmer‘s defensive scheme in 2024, Hankins rejoined Durde out west.

Last season, Hankins tallied five tackles for loss — his most since 2019 — and batted down a pass. He added an interception against the 49ers in Week 11. Not many players remain active from the 2013 draft, but a handful of second-round picks that year have signed one-year deals this offseason. Zach Ertz, Darius Slay and Robert Woods caught on, while Geno Smith — as QB careers can obviously last longer — scored a two-year Raiders extension earlier this month.

Chargers Place UFA Tender On J.K. Dobbins

April 29th, 2025 at 4:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chargers’ offseason blueprint included two significant running back investments. The team added Najee Harris on Day 1 of free agency and then used its first-round pick on Omarion Hampton. This represents a more committed effort compared to last year, when two ex-Ravens RBs reunited with OC Greg Roman.

J.K. Dobbins rebounded from an injury-marred Baltimore stay to become the Bolts’ primary starter last season, but he has not signed anywhere as a free agent. With Monday being the deadline for signings affecting the 2026 compensatory formula, the Chargers made a move that could net them a compensatory pick if Dobbins were to depart.

The Bolts joined the Browns in using a UFA tender, with Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer noting the AFC West team used one on Dobbins. If Dobbins is unsigned by July 22, the Chargers would retain exclusive negotiating rights on him. The Ohio State alum would be attached to a $1.1MM tender (110% of his 2024 salary). This comes as the Browns placed a UFA tender on wide receiver Elijah Moore.

Having suffered ACL and Achilles tears during his time in Baltimore, Dobbins reemerged last season by rushing for 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns for a newly run-oriented Chargers team. An ankle injury sidelined Dobbins, but his IR stint only covered four games. He returned to help the team to the playoffs, but the Bolts cut Gus Edwards and have not re-signed Dobbins. They added Harris on a one-year deal (worth $5.25MM), with Hampton’s fully guaranteed first-round contract positioning him to be the club’s long-term starter.

This setup would leave little room for Dobbins, but the Chargers will be tied to him for a bit longer. If Dobbins signs elsewhere before July 22, he could factor into the Bolts’ compensatory formula for the 2026 draft. The team hired ex-Ravens exec Joe Hortiz as GM last year; no club prioritizes comp picks more than Baltimore. That undoubtedly factors into this tender decision. A team signing Dobbins, however, will likely do so at a low rate due to the former second-rounder’s 46 missed games over the past four seasons.

UFA tenders have led to separations in the recent past. The Chiefs and Ravens placed them on Melvin Ingram and Justin Houston, respectively, in 2022 and saw each sign elsewhere before the July 22 deadline. The Patriots slapped one on LeGarrette Blount in 2017 and saw him join the Eagles soon after. The Giants, however, used the tender on Markus Golden in 2020 and reunited with him — after he signed it that July. (The Giants traded Golden to the Cardinals that October.) There would seem to be no place for Dobbins on Los Angeles’ 2025 roster, but he remains loosely tied to the team during free agency.

49ers To Sign T D.J. Humphries

April 29th, 2025 at 4:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a brief stint in Kansas City, D.J. Humphries will return to the NFC West. The longtime Cardinals left tackle is signing with the 49ers, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Humphries upped his career start total to 100 through two Chiefs starts, but he ended up giving way to Joe Thuney. The Chiefs kicked their All-Pro left guard outside in an effort to stabilize the position. That plan largely worked out, only for it to be exposed in Super Bowl LIX. The Chiefs have since given ex-49ers swing tackle Jaylon Moore a two-year, $30MM deal; the 49ers will add Humphries from Kansas City as a possible swingman.

The 49ers will hope for a better version of Humphries, as he is now more than a year removed from the December 2023 ACL tear that ended his Cardinals stay. Humphries has battled a host of injuries during his career. In his first Chiefs start, the former first-rounder — given the starting job soon after signing — went down with a hamstring issue. He never reacquired the team’s LT job, only coming in for a Week 18 start that featured the AFC’s top seed resting most of its first-stringers.

Now 31, Humphries profiles as a swing tackle behind starters Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz. The 49ers needed Moore to close out last season, as Williams went down with an ankle injury. Considering Williams is heading into an age-37 season, acquiring a proven backup makes sense for San Francisco. Humphries has only played left tackle since 2017; he and then-Cardinals LT starter flipped sides after the 2016 season. The team had eyed converted guard Spencer Burford as a potential swing option; the fourth-year player will at least have competition for that role now.

The 49ers have not drafted a tackle since taking Moore in the 2021 fifth round. Moore moved up in the pecking order after Mike McGlinchey‘s 2023 Broncos commitment made McKivitz the new right tackle. With Moore now gone — at a price that surprised John Lynch — the 49ers needed a replacement. They have plenty of Humphries intel to go on, with the Lynch-Kyle Shanahan regime having seen the blocker in NFC West matchups from 2017-23.

Humphries’ stay as Arizona’s LT earned him two lucrative deals with the team — in 2020 and ’22. The team cut bait on the three-year, $51MM extension early in Monti Ossenfort‘s GM tenure, having designated him a post-June 1 cut last year. Pro Football Focus graded Humprhies 51st among 81 tackle regulars during a 15-start 2023. While Humphries has dealt with injuries in each of the past three seasons, he missed just one game from 2019-21. The 49ers will hope the 10-year veteran being another year removed from his most serious injury will help him back on track.

Patriots Release LS Joe Cardona

April 29th, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots have now cut ties with every player who had been part of their Super Bowl core. After moving on from Jonathan Jones, David Andrews and Deatrich Wise earlier this offseason, the team is parting ways with its long snapper from the second leg of its dynasty.

New England released Joe Cardona on Tuesday. This came after the Pats used a seventh-round pick on a deep snapper Saturday. Cardona had been with the Pats for 10 seasons. He entered the offseason tied with Andrews as the team’s longest-tenured player, but a Pats draft move changed his course.

Although the team obtained the Mr. Irrelevant pick, that did not go to Cardona’s replacement. Instead, the Pats chose Vanderbilt’s Julian Ashby six spots earlier. The only team to use a draft choice specifically on a long snapper this year, the Patriots served notice Cardona’s time could be up. Rather than a competition, Cardona will have a chance to catch on elsewhere soon.

The light workload long snappers consume keeps their salaries in the NFL basement, but it also allows for long careers. Cardona’s experience certainly should put him in line for consideration elsewhere, even as he has spent his entire career in Foxborough. Bill Belichick used a fifth-round pick on Cardona in 2015, choosing him 166th overall out of Navy. He teamed with Stephen Gostkowski during the Adam Vinatieri successor’s final stretch in New England and collected two Super Bowl rings, playing in three Super Bowls in total.

Cardona signed three Patriots contracts, inking two four-year deals as a veteran. Two seasons remained on Cardona’s third New England accord — a four-year, $6.3MM pact — but the Patriots will incur only $500K in dead money from this release. While no Pro Bowls are on Cardona’s resume, it would surprise if the 33-year-old snapper did not resurface for an 11th NFL season elsewhere.

The Pats lost Jones and Wise to the Commanders in free agency, while the team cut Andrews after he missed most of last season. Although the most memorable chapter in Patriots history effectively closed when Belichick was forced out (four years after Tom Brady‘s exit changed the franchise’s trajectory), the team officially wrapped it by moving on from the above-referenced quartet of Super Bowl contributors this year.

Ethan Waugh Out As Jaguars’ Assistant GM

April 29th, 2025 at 2:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite being tied to the Trent Baalke regime, Ethan Waugh took part in the Jaguars’ round of interviews to replace him. But Baalke’s right-hand man is out in Jacksonville as well.

The Jags are moving on from Waugh as assistant GM, InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton reports. Hiring Waugh just after the 2022 draft, the Jags also named him interim GM following Baalke’s January firing. With James Gladstone now in place as GM, it certainly makes sense a key new hire will take place as restructuring continues under the ex-Rams exec.

Teams often wait until after the draft to make these moves, in order to not disrupt continuity within the front office after extensive scouting work has been completed. Waugh ended up working through the draft, a memorable one for the Jaguars, who traded a 2026 first-rounder as part of a package that secured them (via the Browns) Travis Hunter‘s draft rights.

Gladstone is credited with putting those trade talks in motion, doing so weeks ahead of the draft. Waugh was still with the team at this point. Waugh arrived days after the 2022 draft and had been playing out the string this year. The veteran exec had worked in San Francisco for an extended period, overlapping with Baalke there. It will be expected he lands elsewhere soon, even if Baalke has not.

Despite Baalke’s 49ers ouster after the 2016 season, John Lynch retained Waugh and eventually elevated him to VP of player personnel in 2021. This came months after the Jaguars named Baalke GM, though he held that title while Urban Meyer ran football ops. Post-Meyer, the Jags elevated Baalke to the top of their personnel period. They then added Waugh from the 49ers.

The Baalke-Waugh pairing completed an eventful offseason in 2024, giving out the three most lucrative contract extensions — for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell — in team history. This came after the team gave Gladstone and Co. an ascending talent by drafting Brian Thomas Jr. in Round 1. Last year’s Jags season skidded off track early, however, as a host of close losses turned into a 4-13 record — during a season that brought Lawrence’s first extended absence. Hunter will be brought in to team with Thomas.

Bengals To Exercise DB Dax Hill’s Fifth-Year Option

April 29th, 2025 at 1:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dax Hill is coming off a season marred by an ACL tear, but the Bengals are still high on the former first-round pick. Rather than shift the converted safety into a contract year, the team is extending his rookie contract through 2026.

The rehabbing cornerback will see his fifth-year option exercised, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. This is an interesting decision, but Hill had won a starting CB job in Cincinnati after being moved from safety last year.

Hill’s option cost likely is motivating a Bengals team, one that changed defensive coordinators earlier this year, to stick with the 2022 first-round pick. Although Hill spent more time at safety than corner during his fifth-year option, Fowler notes his option price is expected to land on the fourth tier at corner. That would call for a $12.68MM guarantee. Were Hill to be classified as a safety, the number would settle at an even more manageable $9.27MM.

Still, this is an interesting decision due to Hill having suffered an ACL tear in Week 5 of last season. The Bengals had moved him from safety to corner before OTAs last year, sliding him closer to the line of scrimmage after Chidobe Awuzie‘s free agency defection. Hill, 24, beat out former Michigan teammate DJ Turner for a starting job opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. Cincinnati’s Tuesday decision provides some momentum for Hill as he completes rehab from a major injury.

Hill had played well at corner after the switch. Pro Football Focus graded the 6-foot defender in the top quartile at the position last season, though he did not log enough snaps to qualify as a 2024 regular. This, however, differs from how the advanced metrics site assessed his play at safety. PFF graded Hill 90th out of 95 qualified safeties in 2023, as the Bengals struggled to replace Jessie Bates.

Hill only has one full season as a starter under his belt, having played behind Bates and Vonn Bell as a rookie. Hill’s 2024 injury served as part of the Cincy defense’s undoing last year, but Al Golden appears to still view him as a building block ahead of his first year as DC.

As the team prepares to reintegrate Hill into its starting lineup, Turner and Taylor-Britt remain on their rookie deals. Neither is eligible for a fifth-year option due to both having been second-round picks. One season remains on Taylor-Britt’s deal, two on Turner’s. Despite Lou Anarumo‘s defense unraveling — to deny the team a playoff berth and Joe Burrow a potential MVP award — last season, no major CB investments have come this offseason. That points to considerable faith in Hill, and Tuesday’s option decision illustrated that.

Chiefs To Exercise Fifth-Year Options On Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis

April 29th, 2025 at 12:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis are targets for Chiefs extensions. One or both could be worked out as early as this offseason, but in any case their futures for the next two years are clear.

Kansas City will exercise the fifth-year option in both of these cases, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. For McDuffie, that sets him up to receive $17.6MM in 2026. Karlaftis will be in line to earn $15.12MM that season. Of course, long-term accords could very well be hand before that campaign begins anyway.

[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]

The Chiefs appeared at one point to be on track to lose guard Trey Smith in free agency, but using the franchise tag prevented such a development. Tagging the Pro Bowler ensures he will remain in Kansas City for at least 2025, but general manager Brett Veach recently said a Smith extension will be the team’s top post-draft priority. To no surprise, McDuffie and Karlaftis are in the team’s plans as well.

McDuffie has operated as a full-time starter during his time with the Chiefs. The Washington product does not have a Pro Bowl nod on his resume despite the fact he earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and a spot on the second All-Pro team last year. McDuffie has only managed two interceptions to date in his career, but his strong coverage performances and 13 pass deflections from last year showcase his value to the team.

The cornerback market jumped to $30MM this offseason thanks to Derek Stingley Jr.‘s Texans extension. Seven cover men are now attached to a pact averaging at least $20.1MM annually, and McDuffie will no doubt aim to join that group on his second contract. Team and player will have plenty of time to work out a deal with the option being picked up.

Karlaftis, 24, has seen his workload increase with each passing season. After posting 10.5 sacks in 2023, that figure fell slightly to eight last season. The Purdue alum increased his pressure totals (from 35 to 37), though, and continued development can be expected for several more years. Providing Kansas City with a consistent presence off the edge will be key for the team as defensive tackle Chris Jones moves toward the latter stages of his career.

Myles Garrett‘s trade request was rescinded when he and the Browns worked out an extension averaging $40MM per season. That represents the top of the market at this point, but the likes of Micah Parsons (Cowboys), Aidan Hutchinson (Lions), T.J. Watt (Steelers) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are all in position to ink monster new pacts of their own. That could drive up the asking price on a new Karlaftis pact once negotiations begin on that front.

The Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl every year since adding the McDuffie-Karlaftis tandem to the mix, winning the title game twice. Both members of that pairing will be counted to remain impactful starters moving forward during a stretch which will last through the 2026 campaign at a minimum.

Load More Posts